MILLER, Mary Ingeborg (Hansen) 1915-2015

MILLER, HANSEN

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 11/24/2015 at 19:37:58

Mary Miller

January 23, 1915 - July 5, 2015

Mary Ingeborg Hansen Miller of rural Cedar Falls passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2015 at the age of 100.

Mary was born on January 23, 1915, in Cedar Falls. She married Hugh Miller on June 8, 1940, and the couple farmed northwest of Cedar Falls.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Nels and Viola Hansen; brother, John Hansen; sister, Ann Corwin; husband, Hugh Miller; son, John Miller; and daughter-in-law, Chris Miller.

She was mother to Paul (Nancy) Miller of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; John (Marilyn) Miller of Cedar Falls; Don (Phyllis) Miller of Waterloo, Dennis (Nancy) Miller of Cedar Falls, Linda (Kenneth) Nielsen of Charleston, WV and Russell (Chris) Miller of Cedar Falls. She was the grandmother to fourteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mary started life as a child on a farm when plows were pulled by horses, electricity was something you hoped for and wouldn’t enjoy flush toilets until she was a teenager. She told family stories of all the fun antics that she enjoyed with her brother, sister, and many cousins in their close knit family. As a teenager during the depression, she learned the value of hard work and self-reliance, skills that she built upon throughout her life.

Mary put such a high value on education that she moved to town to live with her grandmother so she could attend high school. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College graduating in 1934 with a teaching degree that allowed her to teach in one-room schools. She taught in Jefferson Township and Fredsville District schools for seven years at a time when the local school board members provided housing for the teacher in their own home. She used her earnings to purchase her first car, a 1929 Model A Ford.

As a young adult, she became active in the Junior Farm Bureau where she met Hugh. Farm Bureau, County Extension Services and 4-H Clubs continued to play an important part in her life as a parent, a volunteer, and later to working in the Cattle Congress administration offices.

Mary was always interested in her community and followed local and national issues, especially as they pertained to farmers. As a farm wife she was instrumental in instigating many family and neighborhood gatherings and was a lifelong member of the neighborhood women’s club. She volunteered throughout her life in many ways including membership on community councils and church circles, participating in elections as a precinct poll worker, volunteering at the Western Home Annual Breakfast, and staffing the Sartori Hospital gift shop.

As a young mother with six children, she became an entrepreneur in the poultry business. Not only did she raise thousands of chickens and gather the eggs, but she also graded, packaged, and delivered farm fresh eggs directly to supermarket showcases. Through her business contracts and backbreaking work, she supplemented the farm income making it possible for her children to pursue their higher education goals. This can-do spirit provided the example that later influenced her children as they started their own individual farms and other enterprises.

Family was important to her from Sunday get-togethers with relatives to celebrating special occasions. She took a special interest in each child and grandchild always accepting each one as they were and recognizing their special talents. Her interest in education persisted as a parent when she enrolled her children in the Cedar Falls schools to assure that they would obtain adequate college preparation. Throughout life, she relished in each success traveling throughout the country for graduations and weddings.

When her children were grown, she worked at Bolser Manufacturing, National Dairy Cattle Congress, and retired from the University of Northern Iowa after working for 17 years in the extension, alumni and business offices.

As they got older, Mary and Hugh traveled extensively with farm travel groups enjoying trips to Europe and throughout the United States. They spent winters at Sunshine Park in Harlingen, Texas where Mary enjoyed crafts of all kinds but especially loved quilting. After Hugh died in 1992, Mary continued to winter in Texas, taking her sister Ann with her.

Church played a major role in her life as she rarely missed a Sunday, participated in circle, and was always ready to volunteer for church projects. Memorials can be directed to Washington Chapel Cemetery Association or to First United Methodist Church of Cedar Falls.

The family would like to express thanks and sincere appreciation to Theresa Miller, Mary’s friend, neighbor and caregiver extraordinaire.

Visitation will be held at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home from 4:00 to 7:00 on Tuesday, July 14 and at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday July 15 at 9:30 followed by services at 10:30. Burial will be at Washington Chapel Cemetery north of Cedar Falls.

Grandchildren: Michael Miller, Steven Miller, Brad Miller, Kreg Miller, April Melton, Austin Miller, Dale Miller, Doug Miller, Bryan Miller, Laura Ekstrand, Annette Eslick, Kirsten Caswell, Laurie Kearns, and Carissa Harms. Great-grandchildren including: Lauren Miller, Braeden Miller, Reid Miller, Zoe Miller, Calvin Miller, Adam Fischels, Christopher (Chip) Andrew, Katie Melton, Margie Melton, Donnie Melton, Devin Hopper, Brynn Miller, Andy Eslick, Amber Eslick, Eli Eslick, Soren Caswell, Inara Caswell, Madelyn Harms, Hunter Harms, and Landen Harms. Great-great-grandchildren, Desiree McComb and Myah Fischels.

Source: Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home

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